Inquiry concerning immigration (No. 588)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary sitting
Date: 2024-02-05 18:35
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 63
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 48m
AI Summaries: 63/63 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debate centered on the interpellation submitted by the Isamaa faction concerning immigration policy and its consequences. The members who submitted the interpellation—Tõnis Lukas, Helir-Valdor Seeder, and Mart Maastik—expressed deep concern over uncontrolled mass immigration and its impact on Estonia’s security, culture, and economy. The opposition highlighted warnings issued by the Estonian Internal Security Service (Kaitsepolitsei) regarding the rise of extremism and the negative impact of the growing Russian-speaking population on the education system. Criticism was also directed at statements made by government members (particularly Ministers Riisalo) regarding the need to multiply the immigration quota to import cheap labor, fearing the resulting wage pressure and rapid growth in family migration.
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas responded that the government’s migration policy is balanced and focused on the sustainability and security of the nation-state. She confirmed that the governing coalition has not agreed to change the general regulation of the immigration limit, and the 2024 quota (1,303) is lower than the previous year. Kallas distanced herself from the statements made by Ministers Tiit Riisalo and Signe Riisalo regarding raising the quota, stressing that these are not the government's official plans. The Prime Minister also emphasized that the government plans to streamline migration procedures and strengthen migration control to prevent the misuse of legal grounds for migration. Regarding integration, Kallas highlighted the high employment rate (53.2%) among recipients of temporary protection from Ukraine and their commitment to learning the Estonian language.
Decisions Made 1
No legislative decisions were adopted during the debate on the interpellation. Prime Minister Kaja Kallas confirmed the government's intention to amend the Aliens Act in order to enhance migration control, but this draft legislation has not yet been discussed by the government.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Tõnis Lukas (Isamaa, opposition), who was both one of the initiators of the interpellation and the rapporteur. Lukas used his speaking time (including extra time) to emphasize the negative consequences of immigration, focusing on security threats, cultural fragmentation, and the economic damage caused by importing cheap labor. He criticized the government's inability to control immigration and demanded a clear position from the Prime Minister regarding the contradictory statements made by ministers concerning the multiplication of the quota. Lukas warned that uncontrolled immigration could lead to Estonians becoming a minority in their own land and negatively affect the political landscape of local municipalities.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Riigikogu is addressing, as the second item on the agenda, the interpellation concerning immigration that was submitted on December 12th of last year. Tõnis Lukas has been invited to serve as the rapporteur.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas warns that the government is neglecting population policy, and that massive immigration could threaten security, education, and the budget. He asks how large the planned immigration would be, whether this represents the entire government's policy, and what the consequences of such a policy would be.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar called Prime Minister Kaja Kallas to the Riigikogu rostrum to answer the interpellation.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas confirmed that Estonia's migration policy is balanced, regulating immigration and strengthening controls, while simultaneously promoting the arrival of high added-value immigrants and ensuring the better integration of those coming from Ukraine through language training and adaptation programs.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the Prime Minister, stated that he had several questions, and then invited Siim Pohlak to speak first.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak asserts that the issue surrounding migration is fundamentally a language question. He describes an incident where a service worker in a shopping center in the capital city failed to respond to a question posed in Estonian and did not speak the language at all. He then asks what specific measures the government intends to implement to put an end to this, ensuring that Estonians can conduct their affairs in Estonian in retail stores.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stressed the observance of the Language Act and the importance of communication in Estonian, recalling that she managed fine in Estonian while shopping, even if the service provider's native language wasn't Estonian, and that Russian speakers don't switch languages when addressed in Estonian.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked and invited Jaak Valge.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge notes that, according to 2022 OECD data, Estonia's immigration volume relative to its population exceeded the level of many European countries, and asks how it is possible to simultaneously have one of Europe's strictest immigration policies and one of Europe's largest immigration rates.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
A very large number of temporary protection beneficiaries have arrived here from Ukraine—more than in other countries—and consequently, the result is what you see.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Mart Maastik to the stage.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Maastik warned of a demographic crisis that could lead to the extinction of the nation, its language, and its culture. He then asked whether increasing the quota for foreign employment—given the nearly 100,000 foreigners who have entered and the current 0.1% of the population (roughly 1,300 annually), which might grow to 5,000–7,000—is the right way to ensure the state's survival or if it actually jeopardizes it.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that Tiit Riisalo’s ideas require comment, and the government has no such plans.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman called upon Anti Poolamets to speak.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets calls on the Prime Minister to contact the Language Board to obtain real data, and claims that language problems and immigration are an indicator of labor shortages, asking how it is possible that 100,000 people who have arrived from abroad cannot perform even the simplest jobs.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kallas said that, driven by a higher standard of living and people's desire to take on more complex jobs, more jobs have been created than there are unemployed people. Although unemployment has slightly increased, employment is exceptionally high, and this is a positive indicator, because a rise in unemployment usually accompanies an economic recession, a trend which is not currently visible.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
He emphasizes that while the immigration of scientific and highly skilled workers is necessary, mass immigration poses a threat to society as a whole. Therefore, the immigration flow must be limited, as increasing the annual intake from 1,300 to 5,000, coupled with the subsequent arrival of family members, could eventually bring an additional 20,000 to 30,000 people.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar makes a request to Tõnis Lukas.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Now is your time.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
He/She asks what these statistics generally show.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Kaja Kallas said that the government has no plans, and regarding Riisalo's plans, one must turn to Riisalo.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman is requesting comments from the government regarding ministers' statements on solving the demographic crisis via controlled immigration. She also stresses the need for impact assessments concerning social expenditure, while simultaneously asking whether there are plans to import cheap labor during a time of unemployment.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks Riina Solman to come.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas assures that the government has no such plans and she does not intend to take any action.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman called Evelin Poolamets to the stage.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets asks the Prime Minister whether the increase in teachers' workload is also connected to the sharply increased immigration, in addition to the teachers' strike and the salary increase.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that during repeated meetings, teachers highlighted the problems of inclusive education stemming from the high volume of tasks and the growing workload, but not what you said.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Rene Kokk to speak.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk is asking the government what measures will be taken to bring and motivate 55,892 people into the labor market, thereby enabling as many of them as possible to find work, while also ensuring that retail staff are Estonian-speaking. He also reminds them that prime ministers should be accountable and answer Siim Pohlak's question.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that Estonian-language instruction has been improved, and the country is increasingly transitioning to Estonian-language education so that there are no longer people in Estonia who do not speak Estonian. Training and retraining programs have been established for the unemployed, and although unemployment has not grown significantly, she referenced Plan B, which was drafted previously for 75,000 unemployed people, but which is not currently foreseen.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar makes a request to Mart Helme.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme stresses that Estonians should conduct themselves as Estonian speakers everywhere, shares an experience gained from an encounter with a Russian-speaking man, and discusses how to handle such situations—to remain composed and not let oneself be provoked or insulted—and points out the impact of immigration policy and those receiving international protection.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The address simply states, "Your time!", emphasizing that it is the listeners' moment to take action.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme speaks about how he is cursed out obscenely in the 33rd year of independence, and asks what kind of Estonian that makes him.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Kaja Kallas stated that if you are being harassed, there are law enforcement agencies you can turn to.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called Helir-Valdor Seeder to the stage.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder said that the prime minister did not wish to comment on the positions voiced by Minister Riisalo, and that those questions should be directed to them personally. It was confirmed, however, that there are no such plans and that the ministers' words must not cause anxiety in society. Seeder then asked whether this meant that the government does not intend to change the current immigration policy, or migration policy in general, at all.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that the Aliens Act will be amended to speed up the migration procedure, strengthen migration control, and prevent the misuse of the law. However, she added that the migration policy remains the same and significant changes are not expected, even though proposals are currently being discussed.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo noted that Kaja Kallas had previously said that the unemployment rate has not risen.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman invites Kert Kingo to speak.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Kaja Kallas said nothing.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo notes that the rise in unemployment was mentioned back in October, and according to the Bank of Estonia's December forecast, unemployment is set to increase significantly. She then questions why anyone is so certain that everything is fine regarding unemployment.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Unemployment has risen, but the increase in unemployment linked to the economic downturn is less than the recession would suggest; employment has grown significantly, and more jobs have been created than there are unemployed people, and 53.2% of Ukrainian war refugees have entered employment.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar calls upon Arvo Aller to speak.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller is inquiring before the Riigikogu about the proportion of people who have arrived from Ukraine and received temporary protection who are currently unemployed, and the level of active support provided to them via the Unemployment Insurance Fund (Töötukassa).
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Kaja Kallas said that she doesn't have those numbers available at the moment, and as far as she remembers, those people are not eligible for unemployment benefits.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks the Prime Minister, announces that there are no questions, opens the debate, and asks Tõnis Lukas to continue.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
The presentation’s message is a critique of the government’s immigration policy: uncontrolled immigration introduces security, economic, and educational risks, and threatens the Estonian-language space and the state’s majority influence, which is why balanced restrictions and strict control over exemptions are necessary.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech concerns the three-minute duration.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas warns that the influx of cheap labor along with their families could, within a few years, grant these individuals the right to vote in local government elections, thereby impacting integration, Estonian-language schooling, and national policy. He also calls on the Prime Minister to monitor the statements made by government members, ensuring that Pandora's box is not opened, security does not decline, and the influence of citizens from aggressor states does not grow.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The address begins with thanks, and next, Helir-Valdor Seeder takes the floor. He requests additional time and is granted three extra minutes.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder thanks the presiding officer and the Prime Minister, noting that the session is currently no longer being chaired by the Speaker of the Riigikogu, but he remains hopeful nonetheless.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks if this isn't a great regret.
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Helir-Valdor Seeder stresses that interpellations should reach the Riigikogu plenary hall, and that the government should put forward a unified and coordinated message on migration policy that takes security and integration issues seriously and stands against the massive influx of cheap labor.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi expressed his thanks, promised to forward your and Priit Sibul's requests to the Speaker of the Riigikogu along with his own opinion, and announced that Jaak Valge would be next.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge warns that Estonia has experienced significant mass immigration, and integrating these groups is becoming increasingly difficult. He argues that without adherence to the constitution and the establishment of a new national identity, immigration could prove disastrous for culture, language, and productivity, while simultaneously fueling the growth of social risks.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Jaak if they could take some additional time.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge asks a short and polite question: "Pardon me?"
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi asks if we should take more time.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He's inviting us to take a little time.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Deputy Chairman asks if there are three minutes.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge notes that the question of preserving identity could become a topic for a referendum, points out that the governing coalition dislikes democracy and referendums, and highlights that 20% are ready to remain in the same cultural space and 10% are accepting of those coming from a different cultural space, and calls on the government to take the public's attitudes into account.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi concluded the negotiations, thanked both the Prime Minister and the members of the Riigikogu for the constructive debate, and announced that the proceedings on this agenda item were closed.